Politics at the nail salon

[stanwyck]

I live in an Atlanta suburb and often go to the same nail salon, owned by a family that immigrated from Viet Nam. Yesterday, the owner very proudly showed off his new flatscreen TV to me and asked what I thought. (he had the channel turned to CNN). I told him it was great; I'd like watching the TV while I got my nails done. But if I walked in and the station was on Fox News, I'd turn around and walk out. He laughed. I told him I was 100% serious. I would not sit, captive, and listen/watch Fox News for 45+ minutes. I'd leave.
He said: "you're not a Republican?". Uh, not even close.
He said he only discusses politics "at the coffee shop." Which I told him I understand.
I then got my nails done while CNN did an excellent job of reporting "The week in war" from both the political side and what happened on the ground in iraq. The reporting really was "fair and balanced". Plus, CNN showed photos of each soldier/Marine who died last week. (I don't think Fox "honors the troops" by actually showing their names and faces, do they?)
And I am serious. I'll go somewhere else, despite the excellent service, before I listen to rightwing propaganda.
I urge others to do the same: at the gym (do ALL the TVs have to be turned to Fox?) and even at my HMO. Last time I was there, the lobby only had Fox news on the sets. I complained.
You want my money? Turn off Bush's Pravda.

[Tyler Durden]

1. Politics at the hospital

I was waiting for an imaging pocededure, and FAUX news was on. I tried to ignore it, and lost it over some comment after less than 30 seconds.

I asked the lady at the desk if I could change the channel, she said "PLEASE DO, and feel free to hide the remote after you do!" with a great big smile.

You never know until you ask!

[Patiod]

2. But how do you handle the gym?

There's only 4 TVs, and the wingnuts get there early, and ask for Fox. You can't really ask for something to be turned OFF - you have to ask for something to be turned ON - and then one of the employees has to figure out which TV isn't being watched, at which point he/she will put your program on the unwatched TV.

Was there when some G. Gordon Liddy wannabe asked for Fox "News" to be put on, and when the employee came to Katie Couric Evening News, I said "I'm watching that!" since it was the only channel that wasn't actively being watched by multiple other gym members. So G. Gordon had to wait until he got home to get his daily dose of bullshit.

[Kali]

3. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=109940

[stanwyck]

5. Well, that's one way! Thanks for the link

I have complained to the gym management. And, to their credit, they've listened. Turns out, whoever the floor manager was when the TVs were turned on in the am was setting every TV to Fox. Several members complained. And that little practice stopped.

[rockymountaindem]

6. I just ask the gym workers to put ESPN on whatever TV FOX is on

Assuming that Fox is on one of the TVs in my general area (with closed captioning), I am drawn to it like a moth to a flame, only to eventually start getting mad. So, I just ask the people at the front desk who control the TVs to put on ESPN (if it isn't already on). If it is, I guess I could ask for ESPN-2. This is the safe choice because nobody will percieve a political agenda... it's on a TV I can see, and I'm at the gym. Who doesn't want to watch sports at the gym? I mean, we're all working out, right? So if somebody ever says "hey you commie, why'd you turn of Fox?" I'll just say "I don't know what you're talking about, I just wanted to watch (whatever is on). What's wrong with sports at the gym?"

Besides, Pardon the Interruption is one of my favorite programs that I don't watch often enough.

[Patiod]

12. If someone is watching Fox, though, I'm stuck

The rule is, they won't change a channel if even one person is watching.

I usually ask for Animal Planet if I see a chance to get Fox off.

CNBC is pretty annoying, too. Last week they had all these people on defending obscene CEO salaries that aren't linked to performance - just the stupid log-rolling you-scratch-my-back-and-when-I'm-voting-on-your-salary-because-I'm-on-your-board-too-I'll-scratch-yours. They had on one person from GM's union fund, saying that, as major shareholders, they wanted some say in how corporate funds were handled. The smirking yuppie moderator basically shouted her down, and "concluded" that log-rolling was the American/Capitalist Way

[MissMillie]

9. bring an iPod

that way you don't have to listen to any of it.

[lavenderdiva]

4. my own bank showed Fox news for the loonnngggest while

and I thought I would throw up each time I actually had to go inside to see a teller. Recently, though I have noticed that my bank, and several others I have to visit, all have their TV's set to CNN. This goes for a couple of restaurants we go to regularly, that used to have Fox 'News' on all the time- the channel is now set to CNN.

Maybe people are waking up...

[City Lights]

7. I stopped eating at a Giordano's near me for the same reason.

Fox Noise Channel blarring 24/7. I wrote to the main Giordano's to complain and even they weren't happy. They prefer that their franchises have their TVs tuned to sports. They promised me they'd talk to the owner/manager of the one near me. I've been in there a few times since and Fox Noise is still blarring. I now take my business elsewhere.

[stanwyck]

8. But at least you spoke up.

and that's the point. We need to all let businesses know that we're paying customers and we don't appreciate having yellow journalism blasted at us. We're not talking having the "news" on. O'Reilly and Hannity are hardly Eric Severaid or Walter Cronkite. Fox, especially after last week's "Obama is a terrorist" debacle doesn't deserve any status as news. Remember, this is the network that referred to Jeff Gannon as a "distinguished journalist" (on Hannity's program). Meanwhile, O'Reilly was calling out a fatwa against a newspaper publisher who offended him when his newspaper referred to the sordid little "falafel" lawsuit. Only problem was, the publisher whose picture and phone number O'Reilly featured on his program (so his attack dogs could harrass) was deceased. For years. So much for "Peabody" winning journalist. Oops. Turns out he never won a Peabody; he just said he did. I guess ole Bill and his staff don't fact check. Like that's news.
I encourage all DUers to let businesses know when Fox is blaring that you're not a fan. And it could cost them money. They'll understand.

[SeattleGirl]

10. Politics at the California Pizza Kitchen

Decided to stop in and have lunch at the CPK not far from here. Faux Noise Machine was on; sound turned off but closed captioning on. Bill-O's face was on the tube. :puke:

Not wanting to lose my appetite, I asked the hostess if the TV could be changed to the baseball game (this was last baseball season).

She changed it right away.

[Tyler Durden]

11. 'Atta Girl.

I've found that they'll change it when asked.